The resolution urges collaboration between community service providers and food service establishments in South Dakota to address the growing issues of hunger and food waste, particularly in light of the protections offered by the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996. With disruptions in government assistance programs leading to increased food insecurity—affecting one in eight individuals and one in six children—the resolution highlights the alarming statistic that 35% of usable food from restaurants and grocery stores is wasted, often ending up in landfills despite being safe for consumption.

The resolution emphasizes the importance of food donations, which not only provide essential resources to those in need but also alleviate the financial and mental burdens associated with food insecurity. It calls for food service establishments to partner with nonprofit organizations to ensure that excess food is redirected to help feed the hungry, thereby reducing waste at no additional cost to the businesses involved. With over 110,000 individuals in South Dakota facing hunger, including nearly 40,000 children, the resolution seeks to mobilize community efforts to combat this pressing issue through effective collaboration and the utilization of existing legislative protections.